Park trees

They have a number of benefits that ensure our parks are functional and inviting. These benefits include:

shade - the ambient temperature around trees is cooler and the larger the tree canopy, the greater the cooling effect

trees clean our air - trees remove gaseous pollutants by absorbing them through the leaf surface as well as capturing and removing particles from the air

economic benefits - trees improve the economic performance of the city by increasing the attractiveness of business and tourism areas. People typically linger, relax and have activities in tree- filled parks

Lemon-scented gums give off a beautiful lemon smell - especially after rain. You can find a few of these trees in Crofts Reserve, Altona North and more will be planted around Hobsons Bay.

Two trees that are native to the Melbourne area - yellow boxes and river reds - can be seen in a number of our parks and reserves. There are plantings in Newport Lakes and Paisley Park and more will follow. Yellow boxes are planted in Altona Meadows Reserve, Truganina Park, AB Shaw Reserve and Paisley Park. River reds are common around Cherry Lake, McCormack Park, Paisley Park and along Skeleton Creek near Point Cook Road.

The Queensland bottle tree makes for a beautiful park tree. There are a few examples near the Arboretum at Newport Lakes Park.

Spotted gums are easily distinguished by their spotted bark and familiar to anyone who has driven down Ferguson Street, Williamstown and are present throughout many parks in Hobsons Bay. Yellow bloodwoods and smooth barked apple trees, like the spotted gums, are more common to the woodland around Sydney – however they also suitable for Hobsons Bay. Mugga ironbarks are another NSW tree and a number grow in Loft Reserve, Digman Reserve and Newport Lakes.

The Moreton Bay figs of Logan Reserve have become iconic with their thick, prominent buttressing roots and long sprawling branches. These features make it a great tree for kids to play in.

PHOTO: a particularly orange trunked Corymbia citiodora (left) and the camouflage-style bark of a river red gum (right)